Anti-VEGF treatment
Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) therapy is a minimally invasive, outpatient clinic-based treatment, used to treat certain eye conditions and to help stabilise or improve vision. Keep reading to discover the conditions anti-VEGF is designed to treat and what anti-VEGF treatment looks like with AOA体育平台 Eye Centre.
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What is it for?
A minimally invasive treatment used to treat a range of eye conditions
What do anti-VEGF injections treat?
Anti-VEGF intravitreal injections are used to treat several retinal conditions characterised by abnormal fluid leakage and blood vessel growth These conditions include:
- Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) 鈥� the wet form of AMD, which occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow at the macula (the central part of the retina) and leak or bleed, leading to problems with your central vision.
- Diabetic macular oedema 鈥� a condition caused when blood vessels damaged by high blood sugar leak and cause swelling in the macula, leading to reduced vision.
- Retinal vein occlusion 鈥� the veins to your retina can become blocked, preventing blood from leaving your retina and leading to bleeding, leakage, and swelling (macula oedema).
- Myopic choroidal neovascularisation 鈥� a complication of severe myopia (short-sightedness), where the growth of abnormal blood vessels can lead to leakage and bleeding, ultimately resulting in vision loss.
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy 鈥� a complication of diabetes in which high blood sugar causes progressive loss of fine blood vessels (capillaries) in the retina. This can eventually lead to the development of abnormal blood vessels that can bleed or cause scarring, causing severe visual problems which can present acutely.
- Other atypical or idiopathic neovascularisation 鈥� neovascularisation refers to new blood vessels developing in your eye where they shouldn鈥檛 exist. Many eye conditions can be complicated by neovascularisation, and anti-VEGF treatment may be used to treat this finding.
Anti-VEGF injections and related diagnostics
The diagnostic tests used to confirm a condition that may be treated with anti-VEGF injections will depend on the diagnosis. However, these same tests are likely to be used to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.
These may include any of the following:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) 鈥� this non-invasive technology uses a laser to scan the back of your eye, providing high-definition cross-sectional images of your retina to enable accurate diagnosis and management.
- OCT-A (optical coherence tomography angiography) 鈥� using the same OCT scanner as above, this supplementary examination can help confirm the diagnosis being investigated.
- Fluorescein angiography (FA) 鈥� this imaging technique involves injecting a fluorescent dye into your bloodstream through your arm. Once the dye reaches the blood vessels in your eye, a series of photographs are taken using a special camera to identify areas of retinal damage and patterns of leakage.
- Indocyanine green angiography 鈥� similar to FA but using a different dye, this technique is particularly useful for imaging the choroid, a deeper layer of blood vessels located under the retina.
- Fundus photography and wide-field retinal imaging 鈥� these approaches take high-resolution photographs of the retina, allowing accurate diagnosis, management, and monitoring of your condition.
- Visual acuity testing 鈥� a range of standard eye chart tests designed to measure vision sharpness, helping assess the impact of your condition on your vision and the treatment鈥檚 effectiveness.
You can be assured that our consultants at AOA体育平台 Eye Centre will make the best personalised treatment decision for you, guided by the most sophisticated retinal imaging available.
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Preparing for Anti-VEGF Treatment
Anti-VEGF therapy is administered directly into the eye using a fine needle. Before the treatment, a local anaesthetic is applied to numb the eye, ensuring comfort throughout the procedure. Treatment typically involves a series of injections over time, starting with monthly injections that may reduce in frequency based on your condition and response to treatment.
Aftercare and Recovery
Following the injection, lubricating eye drops are provided to relieve any temporary irritation. Most people can resume normal activities soon after, but strenuous activities should be avoided for a day or two. Improvement in vision may be noticed within a few weeks, although significant results may take several injections over a few months. Anti-VEGF therapy is a management treatment rather than a cure, so ongoing injections and regular monitoring will be necessary.
Understanding the Risks
Anti-VEGF therapy is minimally invasive, with high success rates and a rapid recovery period. Possible side effects include temporary eye irritation, red eyes, floaters, and, in rare cases, infection, inflammation, increased intraocular pressure, cataracts, or retinal detachment. All treatments are conducted in a sterile, dedicated suite by experienced consultants to ensure precision, safety, and comfort.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Anti-VEGF therapy is typically administered directly into the eye using a very fine needle. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, meaning the eye will be numbed before the treatment takes place.
You will usually have a series of injections over time. However, the frequency and duration of your treatment will vary depending on the condition being treated and your response to treatment. An anti-VEGF treatment course typically starts with monthly injections which may be reduced in frequency over time.
After the treatment is administered, you will be given lubricating eye drops to ease any irritation in your eye. You should be able to resume your normal activities shortly after the procedure, though you will be advised to avoid strenuous activities for a day or two.
You may then notice improvements in your vision within a few weeks, though it can take several injections over a few months to achieve significantly noticeable results.
Importantly, anti-VEGF treatment is not a cure as it needs to be repeated to help manage your condition. As a result, you are likely to need ongoing treatment and monitoring of your condition.
Overall, anti-VEGF therapy is a minimally invasive procedure with relatively few risks, high success rates, and rapid recovery times. However, there are some side effects of anti-VEGF therapy, including:
- temporary eye irritation
- red eyes
- floaters (specks and flecks in your vision)
- infection (rarely)
- inflammation (rarely)
- increased intraocular (inner eye) pressure (rarely)
- cataract and retinal detachment (rarely)
Our consultants are highly experienced in the delivery of anti-VEGF therapy. Our treatments are undertaken in a sterile, dedicated intravitreal injection suite, where treatment is administered precisely, swiftly, safely, and painlessly.
You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally.
Alternatively, you can pay for yourself (self-pay). If you are paying for yourself, we have finance options available with .
Find out more about paying for your treatment here.
To book an appointment, call us today on: 0203 553 3670